The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson
Sailing Yacht Truce
Six hundred miles and across the Sulu Sea twice to end up where I started. An unusual trip. I departed from Puerto Princesa headed towards Bonbonon on Negros Island, a trip of about 270 miles. This was to be my stepping stone for sailing east through the Philippines and then down the East coast of Mindanao to Davao where I intended to check out of the country.
I have made the horrific discovery of some wet wood in the rudder. The rudder construction is a sandwich with red cedar on the outside and laminated ply in the centre. Water has got into the central ply section from the tiller pocket and travelled, as it does, down through the ply. Luckily, I have discovered it early and after extensive prodding and digging around I can see the end of it.
After the injury to my left arm I have been sailing with just the headsail. Most of the time I have poled out the sail as its been mostly downwind sailing to the SE trades. The trades at times can be strong, gusting to 30+ knots occasionally. It looks like I have stressed the spinnaker pole and opened up an old break in the carbon fibre. This needs repairing before setting off again.
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 